---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 3074"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "3074"
heading: "Voluntary return of tangible cultural heritage"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/3074"
units:
  - "Chapter 32B — Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony"
---

# §3074. Voluntary return of tangible cultural heritage

- (a) **Liaison—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/3072.md?p=9) and the Secretary of State shall each designate a liaison to facilitate the voluntary return of [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10).
- (b) **Trainings and workshops—** The liaisons designated under [subsection (a)](#a) shall offer to representatives of [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) and [Native Hawaiian organizations](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8) and collectors, dealers, and other individuals and organizations trainings and workshops regarding the voluntary return of [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10).
- (c) **Referrals—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/3072.md?p=9) shall refer individuals and organizations to 1 or more [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) and [Native Hawaiian organizations](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8) with a [cultural affiliation](/usc/25/3072.md?p=2) to [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10) for the purpose of facilitating the voluntary return of [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10).
  - (2) **Referral representatives—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/3072.md?p=9) shall compile a [list](/usc/25/5130.md?p=3) of representatives from each [Indian Tribe](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) and [Native Hawaiian organization](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8) for purposes of referral under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (3) **Consultation—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/3072.md?p=9) shall consult with [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4), [Native Hawaiian organizations](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8), and the Native working group convened under [section 3076(a) of this title](/usc/25/3076.md?p=a) before making a referral under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (4) **Third-party experts—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/3072.md?p=9) may use third parties with relevant expertise, including institutions of higher education, museums, dealers, and collector organizations, in determining to which [Indian Tribe](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) or [Native Hawaiian organization](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8) an individual or organization should be referred under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
- (d) **Legal liability—** Nothing in this section imposes on any individual or entity any additional penalties or legal liability.
- (e) **Tax documentation—** In facilitating the voluntary return of [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10) under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/25/3072.md?p=9) shall include provision of tax documentation for a deductible gift to an [Indian Tribe](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) or [Native Hawaiian organization](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8), if the recipient [Indian Tribe](/usc/25/3072.md?p=4) or [Native Hawaiian organization](/usc/25/3072.md?p=8) consents to the provision of tax documentation.
- (f) **Repatriation under Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act—** The voluntary return provisions of this section shall apply to a specific item of [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10) only to the extent that the repatriation provisions under [section 3005 of this title](/usc/25/3005.md) do not apply to the item of [tangible cultural heritage](/usc/25/3072.md?p=10).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–258, § 6, Dec. 21, 2022, 136 Stat. 2382.)